“We have challenged ourselves and senior officers to find a further £6m of efficiencies, up from £5m last year, to provide a buffer against future unfunded pressures.

“Through excellent financial management of our efficient council, we are also able to recommend extra investment in key services totalling £3.3m.

“This includes £1m for community safety, £1m for sustainable transport, cycleways and footpaths, £250,000 for countryside access and £0.5m to support new community projects.”

Councillor Wenham, executive member for corporate resources, explained the council’s one per cent share is in addition to 13.48 per cent for Bedfordshire Police and 2.99 per cent for the county fire and rescue service.

He referred to the report which notes “the average parish precept of 2.79 per cent, although there are wide variations between parishes as usual.

“The lucky residents in Streatley are getting an 8.4 per cent reduction, and it’s an 84 per cent increase in Apsley Guise,” he said.

“Taken together it makes a typical council tax increase across Central Bedfordshire of 2.4 per cent.”

Conservative council leader James Jamieson told the meeting: “We continuously deliver better services to our residents. We also care about what we spend.

“But we don’t judge our delivery on how much we spend. We judge it on what we actually deliver.”

Four budget votes were taken in total by councillors and all were approved.